According to The Australian, Ruth Harley emailed staff on the morning of June 11, 2013 to confirm she will end her five years as chief at the end of her term in November. Screen Australia chairman Glen Boreham issued an email to staff about half an hour later confirming Harley’s statement and congratulating her on her work for the agency.
She wrote, “Following discussion with the Board of Screen Australia I am no longer a candidate for the role of CEO. The Board believes that the organisation should have a CEO who is new to the agency to lead the next phase.”
The report adds that in March, Boreham told staff the role of chief executive of the federal agency overseeing film, TV and digital content would be advertised.
Harley was the first chief of the new entity that was formed from the merging of the Film Finance Corporation, Australian Film Commission and Film Australia in 2008. The Australian adds that it understands interviews for the new chief executive have yet to begin with Harley’s underling Fiona Cameron expected to be a major contendor alongside SAFC boss Richard Harris and Aussie-born New Zealand Film Commission CEO Graeme Mason.
